Saturday, October 29, 2011

I had a few hours on my hands and decided to try making kale chips. I wanted to keep the temp as low as possible, so I alternated between having the oven on warm and off. It took a little under 2 hours to get these totally crisp. They are tasty!

Friday, October 28, 2011

I've tried a few new products lately that were tasty enough to share about!

First, oat milk! I picked this up at the health food store on a whim, and I quite like it. It is especially delicious chilled over Ezekiel Sprouted Grain cereal, seeds, unsweetened coconut, and fruit- yum!!

And...drumroll....a new snack I love so much it could get crazy...!! Check out these Rhythm Superfoods raw snacks! I'd love a dehydrator bad, but until the kitchen appliance fairy comes or I happen upon one while thrifting, I'll spring for crispy raw treats like these for a treat.

The kale chips are crunchy and zesty, and the sweet potato ones are savory with a hint of sweetness. They boast being:

Thursday, October 27, 2011

I have been wishing for a Glass Dharma smoothie straw ever since I first saw one on a blog. Lucky duck little me, I won a giveaway during Mofo for a Glass Dharma gift certificate! I finally got to make a straw my own!

I have nothing but great things to say about this product and company. I did a phone order and they were so helpful...the straw came to my house in lightning fast time as well.

I got a smoothie straw with green dots, and a purple canvas cover for toting my straw around safely. I dunno if it shows clearly, but that box reads "Lifetime Guarantee." How awesome is that? I drink 2 green smoothies a day every day...I can't even do the math on how many straws I can save by going reusable!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

This post brought to you by another of my late-evening sweet tooth attacks!

I made a extra-tasty chocolate sauce from Chocolate flavored Vega, raw cacao powder, and coconut oil, then poured it over a banana and some mixed frozen berries. The cold fruit hardened the sauce, making a crispy, sweet, cold treat.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

My most recent review as a Foodbuzz Tastemaker is of Newman's Own products. It took a little creative thinking on how to use the pasta sauces in terms of my diet being mostly raw fruits and veggies these days...

My friend Ali came to the rescue! He is a great cook, and unlike me, isn't intimidated in the least by homemade challenges such as bread and pasta. He has tons of handy kitchen tools, and offered to teach me how to make Ravioli. Using a Flip camera provided by Newman's Own, we filmed our little lesson! This vegetarian ravioli recipe uses sauces and dressings provided by Newman's Own.

Monday, October 24, 2011

First things first, a green smoothie made with kale and avocado...this one was a learning experiences, as in I learned I don't enjoy creamy/fatty smoothies so much! My normal green smoothies involve herbal tea, flax seeds, chia seeds, tons of green, and a little fruit. They come out much more the consistency of a juice than a smoothie. On this particular day, I was out of nearly everything, so I tried a creamy version. Thumbs down and a tummy ache....what is your optimal type of smoothie?

Secondly...zowie! I checked out Philip McCluskey's blog for the first time and found a ton of recipes I want to make. This is the Chocolate Chia Seed Chunk, and it is deeelightful! Very satisfying as a dessert, and helpful in me not consuming tons of heavier date/fruit/nut combos at night when my sweet tooth hits. I added in berries and bananas!

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Raw vegan "tuna" has been a favorite at my house since we first tried it. My latest batch was a melange of nut-types and made use of some homemade pickles from a friend's garden. It came out delicious as usual!

Oh My this is a Tuna! (Originally from Raw Freedom)
(with my adjustments)

Saturday, October 22, 2011

One of the things I love most about Vegan MoFo is discovering new blogs and bloggers! One of my favorite new finds is Fresh Young Coconut, written by Nikki. It focuses on raw and healthy foods, with MoFo being all about raw Fall goodness!

When I saw the Pumpkin Spice Shake Nikki posted, I was in 100%! Here's my computer with the recipe all ready, sweet potato peeled and prepped for chopping!

Some up close shots of the yummy smoothie!

I even took this one step further and put some extra in the freezer for Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream!! (topped with my fave, coconut oil/cacao "Magic Shell"!)

Friday, October 21, 2011

Hello everyone! Hope everyone in blog-land is well! Today's post is on another easy and delicious mostly raw meal.
I made up a batch of Ani Phyo's Garden Pate' and wrapped it up with veggies in an Ezekiel Sprouted Grain Tortilla.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Thanksgiving can be tough for vegans and animal lovers, what with all that turkey torture :(

A few years ago I found a way to encourage myself and help another creature at the same time: Farm Sanctuary's Adopt A Turkey program! You can choose your turkey(s) and sponsor as many as you want! I like to hang my adoption picture in my kitchen during the holidays...it's a fun way to enjoy your donation as well as educate curious visitors :)

My last adopted turkey was named Olive. This years candidates are all so cute, I can't decide!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

I have been a makeup-hater for years and years...to the point of owning a t-shirt that says "Makeup is Ugly; Don't Wear It!"

I'm not quite that anti-goo these days, but it's still hard for me to find a makeup that meets my requirements:
*vegan/cruelty-free
*free of harmful chemicals
*doesn't feel/look gross on
*isn't crazy expensive

From the site: "Bohemian at heart and eclectic by nature, the soul of Everyday Minerals is deeply rooted in the natural beauty of every woman. We are organic, vegan and eco-friendly, and specialize in an innovative collection of products with a spectrum of over 300 vibrant colors and shades that flatter virtually every skin tone. Innovation is an important ingredient in our recipe for success, as the constant desire to uphold a pioneering sense of creativity is what keeps our ideas and products fantastically fresh."

Everyday Minerals (No, I haven't been paid, bribed, or otherwise...but I have received some awesome samples and used the wonderful Try Me Free kit option to pick my base shade!) is my #1 choice for makeup now.

I use their base powder, blush, and eye colors daily now,and just love them. This makeup sits lightly but looks beautiful! I can for certain say EM is the first cosmetic line that I have truly enjoyed wearing. As a bonus, it looks amazing even on my, ahem, troubled at times, skin. Check out their site, order with confidence, and enjoy some girly, swirly good fun!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Vegan Mofo has been a blast so far! I have copied down and bookmarked tons of recipes to make, and I've discovered lots of new-to-me blogs that are just awesome!

On the first day of Mofo I won the giveaway over at Miso For Breakfast (check out the daily chances to win!). My prize is a lovely tea set from Rishi that I just had to post about, especially after I tasted the delicious tea!

I enjoyed my Peach Blossom tea with some homemade raw Butterscotch Bliss Balls. The recipe is from Tera Warner's blog, and it is an absolute winner! These little orbs of happy are super rich, creamy, and have a multi-layered flavor that is sensational. They didn't last long at our house!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

I think my love for smoothies has been pretty well established...I thought I'd share about a few more of the products I use to give my smoothies that extra oomph!

I just tried Vega's new performance line, and wow! I truly could feel a difference in my energy and endurance in my workout after I drank a little smoothie with some Performance Protein added in. All those greens help too!

I also love Sambazon's frozen purees, especially the original Acai flavor. They add zing to a smoothie!

Sambazon sent me a lovely info pack and some beads made from Acai seeds! I have two packs of coupons and stickers courtesy that I'd like to share! If you'd like a pack, leave a comment and I'll randomly choose two people for the treats :)

Although it was a major challenge, I am so glad I did it. Just like the challenges on her site, Crazy Sexy Life, this cleanse helped me develop some healthy habits and let some crappy ones fade away.

I was already into healthy eating and green living, so those topics were fun but not too life-changing. What really had an impact during the cleanse was my exploration of yoga and meditation. I'm no yogini, guru, or anything else fancy and serene, but I am super happy working on my slow-down and sweat skillz! I use yoga workouts on Exercise TV, and also have a lovely friend who teaches at a local studio. I love sweating with intense yoga, and I love wobbling my way to more balance and strength.

I've also stuck with the daily meditation that the cleanse recommends, even if it is just a few minutes. I use guided meditations, as my attention span is soooo not where it needs to be to guide myself without a little help! There are some wacky meditation tracks out there, and then there are some great ones. These are some of my favorites at the moment:

To encourage myself and make my yoga and meditation time a little more of a recharging treat, I use things that enhance my experience. In Crazy Sexy Diet, Kris Carr suggests making your yoga and meditation space(s) special. I've garage saled and thrifted chimes, candles, and event a little indoor potted tree to make my space more relaxing.

For meditating, I use headphones or these cool eco-speakers if I don't feel like having ear-buds in.

I also like to use an eye pillow. The scent and slight pressure on my eyes really puts me right into a more relaxed mood. It's also helpful in shutting out the light that can be a distraction at times. I've tried several different eye pillows, and lavender scented ones are my favorite. Barefoot Yoga makes a lovely eye pillow. One of my complaints with most eye pillows is that you can't clean them or recharge the scent because they are sewn closed. Barefoot Yoga's have a small hidden zipper that allows you to open them, change the contents, and handwash. Yay! That leaves room for all sorts of aromatherapy exploration, though I like the lavender and flaxseed that comes in the pillow. This one also came with a little protective pouch, which is nice for keeping the pillow nice and clean between uses.